Could A Takeaway Fat Tax Help Tackle Obesity?

02/02/2011 12:16
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Updated
22 May 2015

Christine Morgan
MyDaily UK

Health experts and politicians have often debated whether or not imposing a fat tax on junk food would help people lose weight. But takeaway firms and fast food outlets in Oldham, Greater Manchester may soon have to stump up a one-off fee of £1,000 to carry on trading if the local council gets its way.

Takeaway sellers in Oldham may have to pay a fat tax. Photo: Getty

The tax would affect everyone from hot dog stall owners to big businesses like McDonald's and KFC (though you could argue that the fast food giants wouldn't miss £1,000 as much as a hot dog stall owner).

So is it just another revenue-raising tactic, or will the money actually be put to good use? Apparently, if the move is approved at a council meeting tomorrow, the tax will fund things like healthy eating campaigns in the area as well as clearing up the litter that fast food outlets create.

The thinking behind the plan also aims to make fast food businesses charge more for their burgers, kebabs, chips and fried chicken - which, in theory, may make fewer people buy them - or serve healthier food, which means they wouldn't have to pay the tax (healthy food sellers, like juice bars for instance, will be exempt).

But why Oldham, you may be wondering? Apparently one in five 10-year-olds living there is obese, which is higher than the national and even the regional average.

Well at least the Oldham councillors are trying to do something about the problem, but will it have any real effect on the fast food-eating public?